KWRW began for me this
year with a great disappointment. I had organized, back in August
to charter a J105, to do the regatta with Chris and the Brit gang.
We had the charter deal done and the condo and slip reserved....
were just about to order sails, when the J105 Class Executive
Committee decided to make this an "owner only" event
and rejected our application to race. They said "If you don't
own a J105, you can't charter one". Nothing I, or anyone
else, did or said would change their minds.

In search of another boat
to charter, we were unable to find anything the team and I found
acceptable, so deposits were refunded and I went in search of
a ride for myself.

Thanks to my friend Joe,
who needed some digital photos of a new J145, I got hooked up
with the owners of Rain Cloud and went along on the delivery to
Key West. After sailing on the practice days, they had a crew
cancel, so I was able to race 3 of the 5 days with them. It was
a great boat and a pro team, and I was lucky to get the ride.

The
Boat.

The Keel The
Mast

First Splash

The above photos were
taken as the boat was commissioned at Derector's Ship Yard. More
can be seen in the photo album section of my website.

The
official christening.

Various sailing
and shoreside photos:

The Awards:

Monday was chase
boat day on the Melges 24 course. Too bad there was no wind and
so no race.

A bad day on the
water for Titan, when Decision tried to duck her.

And, of course,
some of the scenes that make Key West, Key West!

Though there was
a tie in points between Rain Cloud and Rio, Raincloud was awarded
2nd place, as Rio had more total firsts during the week.